Variety (Sept 1906)

" & 10 VARIETY Shows of the Week HAMMERSTEIN'S. The bill at llammerstein's on Monday afternoon had a disjointed look. Owing to the management's sudden determination to play the Roof one week more, two acts (Lasky & Rolfe's "Immensaphone" and Julius Steger in "The Fifth Command- ment") cancelled in sufficient time to al- low a replacement. On Monday morning Mabel Hitc and Walter Jones concluded they did not care to hazard an appear- ance upstairs, and Chevalier DeLoris, the ^sharpshooter, was substituted. After de- ciding the damage to his "props" would be considerable, the Chevalier cancelled also, and Rice and Prevost, who were passing the theatre at the time, were in- duced to fill the gap. Appearing in street clothes, the team did their act to an audience composed of a great many who appreciated the cir- cumstances. It looked odd especially to see Prevost working in conventional dress, but that did not interfere with his graceful acrobatics. The pair left Tuesday to open with "Little Jack Horner" in Reading. The Empire City Quartet used Hammer- stein's as the downtown outlet for their new songs and parodies. The Alhambra was the other city engagement. Harry Cooper created the usual uproar with his comedy and parodies, one of which on "The Grand Old Rag" is unusually well written. Harry Mayo in his superior bass voice is singing the "Toreador" song from "Carmen," and all the numbers ex- cepting "Holding Hands" are new, "Cheer Up, Mary," being given to close and call- ing forth, several curtains. The Fays in their fourth week are giving the "mind reading" exhibition which has brought the couple so much fame in town. The program announce- ment would apparently cover all that may be said of the act. Whether the fol- lowing lines have been newly inserted for this engagement is not known, but un- doubtedly they read plainly. In the an- nouncement it bats: "She (Mrs. Fav) is not a spiritualistic medium, and there is nothing supernatural about her work. The audience may draw its own conclu- sions as to the methods employed." Avery and Hart are playing a return engagement, and this copy of Williams and Walker appears to have rather palled. Two new songs are sung, one "I'm All In," which has had its melody stolen from "Sympathy" and the other, "Desdemona," bears a too striking resemblance to "When a Poor Relation Comes to Town" in the music to allow of the suggestion that it was ever originally conceived by the composer. Avery calls Hart to ac- count for his clothes, in looks and pan- tomime, but Avery needs a tailor himself. He is the worst dressed "fashionable" person in vaudeville. The mannerisms have become so familiar that the pair will have to devise something new to at- tract. At present it is difficult to ob- tain the laughs with the old business. Signor Cremanel with his magnificent voice appeared, as did Karno's "A Night in an English Music Hall," which drew the customary number of screams. Milt Wood occupied his usual opening position at this house and his dancing pleased, while the Lei Brunins from the other side (New Acts) appeared here for the first time in this country. HENDERSON'S. The Coney Island summer season is draw- ing near its close. At Henderson's the cud i.s anticipated by the management, the audience, orchestra and bill this week. What there was of an audience saw the worst bill of the Henderson vaudeville season, while the management reduced the orchestra through economy or necessity by two or three men. With the remain- ing musicians allowed' two hours for the evening meal or a bath, during which time the "supper" show appears before a piano with an automatic player on the job, the aversion to the cheap bills offered at Hen- derson fades away in contemplation of the real vaudeville to be found in New York City (proper) from now on. There is no choice in the fourteen num- bers listed, the customary fifteen turns at this house having been shortened by one, and snatches of overtures run in to till the time. Several new acts are there. Klcko and Fravoli with Bush and Elliott are unu'er that heading (New Acts), while Archer's "Filipino Girls," the Lucados and Doblado's Sheep arc strange. Cherry and Rates, Jean Ardelle and her "Inky Dinks," the Four Alvinos, Bandy and Wilson and Mont. Herbert also appeared. Wolting's horses displayed' good train- ing, and Levins and Leonard gave the automobile comedy and juggling. The juggling has grown better. The comedy stands still, although a new young "pork- l r" has been introduced. It is such deli- cious humor to see a full-sized man, even disguised as a comedian, feed a milk bot- tle to a pig that the unfortunate end of the act who stands by and watches the operation should demand that he be al- lowed to o'o the same. This inane bit of business has been used by Lavine and Leonard so long that they should drop it, if only for the purpose of proving that an assistant is not absolutely required. The Melrose Troupe of five young men is doing some high-grade acrobatics and "Risley" work. One of the boys turns "tumbles'' so quickly that the effect is lost. There is a little immaterial attempt at comedy which should be dropped. The act would work better were the shifts not so frequent. There is a continual passing of the pillows caused by the men giving two tricks only in each division at a time. More of the "Risley" work should be bunched. The action is lively throughout, especially in the opening, which resembles a circus ring performance. John and Bertha Rich sing and o'ance. In an enclosed theatre the singing would pass well. Mr. Rich's dancing is enjoy- able, but there is no explanation or cause of the bellboy's suit he wears. Miss Rich does not change costume, with plenty of opportunity to do so, and the act would be bettered if this were done. DeWitt, Burns and Torrance are play ing at the Wintergarten, Berlin. - By Sime ■ • P. J. Casey was absent from his desk for a couple of hours on Thursday. He was in court prosecuting a suit against the street railway for damages he sus- tained in an accident over a year ago. BRIGHTON BEACH. The nearest approach to anything "new" on G rover's Brighton Beach program this week is the announcement for next week and a "Souvenir March" during intermis- sion composed' by Louis C. A. Reinhard, tae orchestra leader. In the afternoon Mr. Reinhard is not alone the leader, but the whole orchestra, with one assistant. Be- tween the two they manage to overlook the drummer's cues. Kate Elinore on Tuesday afternoon came to a full stop while the "orchestra" recovered from its sleep. The Elinore Sisters are holding up the latter end of the bill. Kate with the in- clusive swing of her laughter-compelling right arm requires little else to win the house, while May catches the women and children with her petite figure and pleasing voice. Estelle D'Arville is given space in the announcement for Neu Nye and his "Rol- licking Girls." Miss D'Arville is entitled to it. There has nothing been shown to equal her high kicking. She should stop before using the skipping rope. It simply repeats. Owing to an accident Nye did not have the swings at the matinee, but the act worked out smoothly even with a new girl put in for an emergency. Matthews and Ashley in "A Smash-Up in Chinatown" did not have the "China- town" drop. It was not missed. One new song is in use anu' that is the sum total of variations. The parody on "Nobody" is still there, together with the "dope" number. There may have been a few in the audience who had not seen the act be- fore. It is unlikely, although some ap- plause was received. Macy and Hall played "A Timely Awak- ening." The size of the house with the ringing of the telephone bell spoiled the act for those in the rear. There is a new act in the repertoire which will be seen somewhere else during the coming season. Brighton Reach patrons had to be content with the "dreamy" playlet and liked it, especially Miss Hall, who has the "fat" part. Prof. Hermann with magic and illusions chattels incessantly. His enunciation is not perfect and a torrent of talk is not Conducive to enjoyment. What looked like a new 'trunk" trick came toward the close. It is quite good. Another, also probably new, is made so obviously im- possible that the audience' fails to appre- ciate it for that reason. Marseilles in contortions opened the bill. His final feat of turning on a mouthpiece unsupported otherwise vvith his body in several positions, gives an interesting fin- i>h. The Four Rianos "In Africa" closed, taking care of the acrobatic portion. The same girl is with the quartet and the work has not changed. Both the acrobatics and the comedy were liked by the rather large matinee crowd present. G.uy Wonders, formerly secretary and treasurer of the Edward Mozart circuit of vaudeville theatres in Pennsylvania, has shifted and is now an attache of the Sul- livan & Considine New York offices. Clark and Florette have gone out with one of the Weber & Rush burlesque com- panies for the season. Chris Richards, the English eccentric comedian, opens at the Alhambra Theatre Monday. Lind, the impersonator, has been hooked for twenty weeks through the Morris of- fice opening the 27th. Joe Meyer has been engaged by Gus Hill to go ahead of his new musical show, "Around the Clock." Gilday and Fox, the Hebrew dialect comedians, are scheduled for a Western trip. Upon their return to these parts they will have a new sketch in which there are no parodies. Matthews and Ashley closed their week at Morrison's Rockaway Beach last Sun- day and opened' at Brighton the following day. The notorious baggage transfer fa- cilities which prevail in that neighborhood landed their trunks at Manhattan Beach and in order to appear on scheduled' time they were compelled to place their trunks on a hand truck and trundle it through the pouring rain themselves. Avery, of Avery and Hart, playing at llammerstein's this week, had all his clothes stolen in the boarding house where he resides when in the city. With the assistance of fifteen cents borrowed from his landlady and a unique costume, also loaned. Avery made the theatre on time for the first show. Nellie McCoy and her "Gibson Girls" quit at Morrison's, Rockaway, last Fri- day because the management moved the act up from last position to number two on the bill. Charles S. Wells, of the German comedy team of Rogers and Wells, was taken seri- ously ill at Austin & Stone's Museum. Boston, duly 30. It was hoped they would be able to continue in a short time, but this week word was sent to their agents that all the Eastern time booked would have to be cancelled. Charles Leonard Fletcher is now playing over the Moss-gtoll tour in England with a new protean act. Mr. Fletcher has been offered an exclusive engagement at the London Pavilion after his Austra- lian trip, at a larger salary, he says, than he has ever received. Mr. Fletcher did not accept, his coining trip around the world making his return uncertain. Charles Merritt and Frederick J. Ire- land (the latter manager for Enigmarelle) tried out a new act at Rye Beach Casino this week. . Crawford and Manning and IVicc and Walters are with the "Boston Belles." The Three Moores, a singing combina- tion, go with Jacobs, Lowrie & Butler's "Champagne Girls." Dave Xowlan, who was to have been a member of Leavitt's minstrel company, is booking vaudeville dates. The dates of the minstrel organization, which is in England, have been set back and Nowlan is filling in the vacant time.